I was 10 years old when I went to summer camp for the first time. I still remember the feeling as my mom drove away in our family’s station wagon.

Udder and complete dread.

I cried in the nurse’s office that night, clutching my stomach, telling her I was sick. She understood what I couldn’t. Sadness can feel a lot like a stomachache.

The next day we gathered at the canteen after pool time. I sat by myself, trying to calculate the hours until I could see my mom again. It was complicated math for a fourth grader.

And then my counselor came up to me and handed me an envelope.

“You’ve got a letter!” she said. I took it in my still damp hands, and opened it slowly. I pulled out a sheet of notebook paper and saw my mother’s familiar handwriting.

I didn’t understand then that my mom had mailed that letter before I even left home. She probably wrote it while I fought with my brother in the next room.

She wrote it because she knew I would miss home.

She wrote it because she knew I might be sad.

She wrote it because she wanted me to remember I was loved.

I tell you that story because I think of it every time I write a letter to Bilha, the little girl I sponsor. She’s about the same age as I was that summer at camp. And while my childhood in Virginia may look different than hers in Guatemala, when I read her letters I remember that little girl in her damp bathing suit, reading her mom’s letter and feeling stronger all of a sudden.
I write letters to Bilha because I know being 10 is hard.

I write to her because I know that sometimes she’ll feel sad or overwhelmed.

I write her because I want her to know she is loved.

Back to summer camp for a minute. I got a letter from my mom every day that week. She told me about the weather and my little brother and what was growing in our garden. Mundane stuff, mostly. But I kept every one of those letters in my pillowcase until Friday. They got me through a week of mosquito bites and swimmer’s ear and new friends and late night giggles.

They got me through until the moment I watched my mom step out of our station wagon. Until she enveloped me in a hug.

“Thank you for the letters,” I whispered into her neck that smelled like ivory soap.

What I really meant was “Thank you for loving me.”

Will you write a letter to the child you sponsor this month? Will you provide a reminder that someone far away is thinking of them? That they are cherished?

Because being a kid is hard. And we all need a little reminder that someone out there loves us.

Want some ideas for your letter? Visit Compassion’s Second Friday Letter Writing Club board on Pinterest for downloads and fun ideas from sponsors that will help you give encouragement with each letter you send!

The holidays are when I often get sucked down the black hole that is Pinterest. Before I know it I’ve pinned 13 pumpkin pie recipes (I don’t even like pumpkin pie), a handful of “Elf on the Shelf” ideas (have I mentioned I don’t have kids?), and instructions for how to make your own wrapping paper (I typically shove 90 percent of my Christmas presents into gift bags on Christmas Eve).

But one thing I’ve seen over and over has intrigued me. It’s called the 4 Gift Challenge, and it’s designed to create intentionality when it comes to Christmas gifts.

The idea is simple. You give your child (really, anyone in your life you might be inclined to “over give” to) something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.

And that got us here at Compassion thinking. We could do our own 4 Gift Challenge! But with the Compassion version, you could give those gifts to children in poverty.

We have some ideas here for this fun activity to do with your family! To have your kids help you look through Compassion’s Gift Catalog and find those four perfect gifts to share with children in poverty!

And don’t forget, we’d love for you to share your ideas about how you’re making Christmas more this year — more love, more joy, more Jesus — so tag your posts about Compassion’s 4 Gift Challenge with #MakeItMore. We’ll be sharing your ideas all month on our Pinterest board #MakeItMore and across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

SOMETHING A CHILD IN POVERTY WANTS

A Bicycle: Every kid wants a bike! And when you give one through Compassion’s Gift Catalog, you’re also providing a way for a child to get to school!

Sports Camp: It’s the equivalent to that clumsily wrapped baseball bat under the tree — but you’re also giving the gifts of teamwork, community and physical development!

SOMETHING A CHILD IN POVERTY NEEDS

Safe Water: Access to fresh, safe water is essential for a child’s health and development.Food for a Malnourished Child: When you give food to a child who suffers from malnutrition, you give him the support necessary to grow strong and healthy.

Urgent Medical Care: Every child deserves to know that if she gets sick she will have access to the doctors and medical care she needs for healing.

SOMETHING FOR A CHILD IN POVERTY TO WEAR

Sewing Workshop: A sewing class gives students the skills to not only sew their own clothing but also a marketable skill that can be used to defeat poverty.

Newborn Care Package: Baby clothes are so fun to buy! A gift of a Newborn Care Package lets a mother proudly dress her baby in brand-new clothes.

SOMETHING FOR A CHILD IN POVERTY TO READ

Bible: A child who has a Bible of her own to read will always have the Word of God and His message of love close at hand!

Textbooks: In the developing world a textbook is a key to education — and a clearly marked path out of poverty.

Academic Scholarship: An academic scholarship will help provide a teen with everything they need to further their education — from laboratory and testing fees to study materials and tuition costs.

]]>Thank You for Advocating for Children in Poverty in India!https://blog.compassion.com/thank-you-for-advocating-for-compassion-international-in-india/
Wed, 07 Dec 2016 23:50:22 +0000Compassion Teamhttp://blog.compassion.com/?p=74196

We'll come right out and say it... we think you're pretty amazing.

We are so thankful for your commitment to children in extreme poverty around the world but especially those in India.

Over the past week you - sponsors, donors, child advocates, partners and friends - have sent more than 33,000 letters to Congress ahead of Tuesday's testimony by Compassion before the House Foreign Affairs Committee!

You used your voice on social media sharing your heart and passion for the precious children you have relationship with through sponsorship. You empowered your communities to take action to speak up for the work of our local partners and the children they serve in India. Here are just a few examples of your generous hearts:

We are so thankful for your support and for the support of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Here are four important facts that came out of the committee hearing and have been brought to the attention of Congress:

We were fully supported and encouraged in our work by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

We are not alone in facing this challenge. In the last two years, 11,319 other NGO’s have lost their licenses. This decreases the number of foreign funded organizations in India to almost half the number it was just two years ago.

We have done everything we can to comply with all requests from the Indian government.

If nothing changes, Compassion India is at risk of running out of funds. During the hearing they mentioned a timeframe of 3 weeks, though this could vary slightly. Please know that while this does impact our ability to serve children, it doesn't mean your influence ends. Together, we will continue our pursuit to serve children in poverty in India.

So, what happens next?

Working through international political channels, as we are currently, takes time. And while we want to see positive changes soon, it will be some time before we know if this will produce results. We are so grateful for your patience and continued prayers.

We hope to provide an update on this situation before the end of January.

Please know how encouraged we are to work alongside each of you to release children from poverty every day. We pray that this will be the case in India going forward!

]]>How You Can Advocate for Compassion’s Program in Indiahttps://blog.compassion.com/how-you-can-advocate-for-compassion-international-s-program-in-india/
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 23:15:37 +0000Compassion Teamhttp://blog.compassion.com/?p=74104

Since 1968, we have worked with local partners in India to provide our holistic child development program for children in poverty. Our 510 partners in East and South India support more than 145,000 babies, children and young adults.

But due to the government of India’s decision to restrict Compassion’s funds from reaching our partners this year, many of our child development centers in India are at risk of permanent closure ... leaving some of the most vulnerable of India's population even more vulnerable.

If a resolution with the Indian government isn't found soon, our program there may halt altogether. But your voice could help us work toward a solution.

Compassion child development center staff in India serve a nutritious meal to the children enrolled there.

THE ORIGIN OF GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS IN INDIA

In 2011, the Indian government made significant changes to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which is the law that regulates NGOs' receipt of foreign funds into the country. These revisions allowed the government to restrict NGOs whose purpose differs from India’s political ideology. This means the Indian government can restrict Christian NGO activity if they feel it threatens their national interest.

WHY ALL FUNDING TO COMPASSION IN INDIA HAS STOPPED

In February of this year, the Indian government issued an order against Compassion requiring prior clearance from the government before funds could be transferred to all our partners in India. After months of unsuccessfully trying to obtain prior clearance, we have concluded that the clearance process is fiction. We have never been offered an explanation for this action in the nine months since the order was issued.

Many of our local partners were still able to continue program activities but dozens are operating at a limited capacity. They cut back on things like the number of days the child development centers operated, serving snacks instead of full meals, and running abbreviated programs.

But as of today, many of our remaining partners in India have run out of funds entirely and don't have the benefit of our financial support and resources for their ongoing child development efforts.

We have been working closely with the Indian and U.S. governments and have respectfully complied with all requests from the Indian government. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke on our behalf with a key official in India. However, the restriction on our funds remains in place.

If a resolution is not reached soon, we will no longer be able to fund the child development centers operating in India. The ripple effect would not only impact the lives of more than 130,000 babies, children and young adults but also the lives of their family members and their communities.

A mother in India plays with her little one who is enrolled in Compassion's Child Survival Program.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO ADVOCATE FOR COMPASSION IN INDIA

We have pursued every possible conversation with government officials in hopes of protecting our work, our local partners and the children and their families. And now we'd like to ask you, our partners as sponsors, donors and child advocates, to lend your strong voice to the conversation!

On Dec. 6, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives will hear testimony from Compassion about the situation with the Indian government.

Will you join us in our effort to ensure that America’s lawmakers are aware of the risks posed to the 130,000 children if we can no longer operate in India?

There are two ways in which you can stand with us to advocate for the children and their communities in India:

1. Send a Letter to Your Congressperson.

It's simple. Just click the link below that has a pre-drafted letter from you to your state’s representative. All you need to do is sign the letter, enter your email, address and ZIP code, and hit submit. The letter includes an opportunity for you to add your own personalized message if you so choose.

2. Raise Awareness on Social Media.

Share this blog to your own social media channels via the buttons at the bottom or top of this post.

A young girl who participates in Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program proudly shares a letter from her sponsor.

Imagine the impact we could have if everyone who sponsors and advocates for children would speak up on their behalf!

You have been so generous in releasing children from poverty with us. And we hope we can count on you to act now and let the U.S. government know before Dec. 6 how passionately you support children in extreme poverty.

Not too long ago, I shared with you about my frustrations with Christmas, specifically that I don’t want wish lists to be the focus (and despite my best efforts, my almost-5-year-old has a nasty case of presentitis).

Today, I want to consider a big question: What does the Bible say about giving?

I realize that’s a pretty open-ended question, one that could go in any number of directions, so I want to focus on the issue of motivation. Why do we give? What is the purpose of giving? It should be no surprise that the answer is wonderfully simple and unimaginably complex, all at the same time.

For many of us, particularly those of us in the Compassion world, it’s really tempting to point and look at the needs of the world and say,

“That’s why we give. We’re giving so we can bless others.”

And this is a good motivation, but biblically it’s not the starting place for God’s people. We also have to remember that generosity is about so much more than money; it’s about our entire lives — giving of our time, talent and treasure.

And if that’s the case, our giving has to be motivated by something far greater than need.

Acts 2 helps us understand our primary motivation. (By the way, much of what you’re about to read is adapted from a book I wrote) Here, Luke describes the believers as having,

"all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:44-47 (ESV)

This is incredible to read, isn’t it? So strong was the bond between the believers that they had a great desire to meet one another’s needs. Nothing was off-limits. Homes and lives were open.

People were giving away what they had, exchanging their earthly treasures for treasure in heaven. It’s amazing to consider, possibly because the whole concept is so foreign to those of us living in the Western world.

What’s going on in this picture of the early church? Was it some form of proto-communist experiment? There is no record of anyone suggesting that they do this, much less commanding it.

Despite what some who perhaps hold to a more creative view of possessions might suggest, personal property was not seen as wicked or sinful in the early church. Indeed, even during this time, many believers continued to own homes where they would meet (see v. 46), and Acts 5:4 indicates that believers were under no obligation to relieve themselves of all their earthly possessions.

So why this outpouring of generosity? What compelled them to give of themselves in this way?

It was motivated by the grace of God. It was a spontaneous response to God’s lavish generosity toward them in not holding back the most precious treasure of all — free and unmerited salvation offered by the Father through the Son.

What’s fascinating is that this is the pattern throughout the Bible: God’s grace motivates generosity in His people for the purpose of glorifying God.

In Genesis 14:19-20, Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils, but there is no command to do so. It’s motivated by Abram’s love for God and his conviction that Melchizedek is God’s special servant.

Likewise in Exodus, as plans are made for the construction of the tabernacle, God says, “From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me” (Ex. 25:2). Moses then tells the Israelites, “Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution.” When the people returned, they had to be restrained from giving, as what they offered was far beyond what was needed (Ex. 35:5, 36:5-7)!

Even as we turn to the New Testament, we see that the pattern continues and even becomes more overt. In 2 Corinthians, which contains perhaps the most exhaustive instruction on New Covenant giving, we read about a similarly generous offering. There, Paul commends the Macedonians to the Corinthians, saying that though they were in serious affliction and extreme poverty, they gave in an overflow of generosity according to their means (cf. 2 Cor. 8:1-12).

Paul was taking up a collection (as he mentions in nearly all his epistles) to help the impoverished Jerusalem church, and the Macedonians responded with overflowing generosity. Paul seeks to encourage the Corinthians to do likewise, explaining:

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, 'He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.'

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God." 2 Cor. 9:6-12 (ESV)

Without getting into an extremely in-depth examination of the text, we can see that Paul is laying out a number of straightforward principles that should guide how we give, both positive and negative.

But what’s most interesting is the negative principle he offers in verse 7: Do not give under compulsion.

Giving out of a sense of guilt or external pressure isn’t generosity. It’s extortion, and God will have none of it. Guilt doesn’t glorify God, Paul says in essence.

All of our giving is to be from a generous heart, cheerfully offered. Guilt and obligation don’t produce this kind of heart, but the Holy Spirit does.

Grace produces generosity as men and women are reminded of the gospel — that Jesus, though He was rich became poor on our behalf, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, offering up His life for ours, and rose again to give us the gift of new life.

That’s the kind of attitude toward giving that glorifies God. That’s the purpose to which we are called as cheerful givers. And truly, there’s no better motivation.

My six-year-old son is in the first grade. His homework includes a lot of addition these days. I have talked to him about multiplication. However, I really look forward to when the “light turns on” for him and he grasps the power of multiplication versus addition. I think he’s going to love it.

In many ways, I feel the lights have recently “come on” for Compassion and several of our partners in how we can innovate and build connections in church planting and child discipleship. And...we love what we see!

SO MANY CHILDREN, SO FEW CHURCHES

So, what does Compassion have to do with church planting?

Well, there is a common challenge in many countries where we work. We know where children are living in extreme poverty. We also know that 85% of people who follow Jesus Christ choose to do so between ages of 4-14. However, there are often no local Christ-centered churches in their communities — or no church that intentionally disciples children.

Since we unashamedly only work with the local church in our model, we can’t help care for those children without the presence of a church partner. Or, can we?

In 2010, Compassion Ecuador and Stadia - one of our Strategic Partners - imagined a way we could change that. And it seems to be working well.

After identifying some challenges and opportunities, we started with a trusted local church partner in coastal Ecuador to help them plant four churches in areas of extreme poverty. These communities were crippled by alcoholism and neglected. Some did not even have dirt road access until the year the church was built.

These initial plants each served 200 children and 40 mothers and babies through partnership and our holistic child development program. The churches covered their villages in prayers and did practical child outreach even before the day their doors opened to the community.

This unique approach has been multiplied to over 60 church plants in Ecuador to date. Beyond Ecuador, around 50 other local church partners have multiplied in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico to expand their reach to children and communities.

Compassion Bolivia staff and local church leadership met on the outskirts of Cochabamba in September 2013 envisioning what could be. A full church and Child Development Center is now established at this very location serving children and the community.

PLANTING AND GROWING

So, how does it work?

Our staff in Latin America know our local church partners well. The staff also understands where there is synergy with existing partners and denominations that have groomed local leaders with a commitment to planting and children.

Because of this, our country leadership is able to identify existing “mother” church partners and potential “daughter” church planting partners. All stakeholders confirm if there is a common vision and if this approach would help. If so, they agree to mutual goals.

The local mother and potential daughter churches mobilize their own resources to secure land and available supplies for the future plant and Child Development Center.

The new church is governed by local leadership or its national denomination because they are best equipped to address the cultural dynamics and realities of their communities.

Most local churches start by reaching around 200 children. Those children are usually all sponsored by attendees at the US church that provided resources for the church plant construction. This creates a powerful connection for these sponsors, children, and churches!

ONE BUILDING, MANY SERVED

Years ago, a group of staff and I visited an “under construction” church plant named “El Alfarero” (The Potter) on the far outskirts of Santa Cruz in Bolivia.

Pulling up, it was beautiful to see church leaders and tutors already helping children in a nearby shaded area. Across the lot, church members and parents worked diligently on the church building.

Mario Vasquez, Compassion Bolivia's Country Director, chipping in and helping with construction at the Satelite Church Plant.

Since completion, El Alfarero Church has served over 400 babies and children, shared the gospel with families, and even conducted weddings for parents in the neighborhood.

This approach has also helped many rural villages where a mother church wanted to reach further into the next community. In many of these cases, the new plant is the only Christ-centered church in the area.

We have seen a recurring trend when these churches share their plans with the neighborhood or community leadership. At first, many people are skeptical if the church will finish the construction and truly be of help. Over time, we have heard multiple accounts that the church finishing the planned construction built credibility amongst local families and further opened their hearts for the church to help their children.

Children at “El Alfarero” church plant on the outskirts of Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

We are not in this “for the building” and neither are our church partners.

We know that the pastoral team, local child development workers, caregivers, and sponsors are the key players in shaping a child’s life. Still, it has been remarkable to see how the example of a well-constructed building can bring credibility to a church, new vision for a neighborhood, and a positive environment to care for children and families.

PASTORS SHEPHERDING NEW COMMUNITIES

Pastor Marina Zapata shared the following about their “Wellspring of Life” church plant near Cochabamba, Bolivia:

A team and I started preaching in this area in 2011, visiting every house in the place. There was a lot of poverty and single mothers who in turn abandoned their children to go to work in the city. It was heartbreaking!

Because of this new church building, we are sending a very clear signal to all the people in the neighborhood that we care for them. They in return let us take care of their children, providing them a safe place to learn about Jesus.

Before, we held church meetings and activities with children in a very small room made of bricks & mud. Some days the place was overcrowded and people had to listen from outside of the room...

Now the church is a big building in the neighborhood. It can be seen from far and people enjoy attending because it is comfortable and nice…Every Sunday we receive new people in the church.

This church plant in northern Peru (near Chiclayo) was established in an extremely desolate area. Through the leadership of Senior Pastor Jose Sernaque, this Nazarene church is a shining example of hope in this remote community.

Pastor Correia is one of the many people currently building on this approach in Piaui state in Northeast Brazil. He shares:

As a pastor, I have been very present in all the construction details. I also pray and minister to people who are working at the building site. I had an interesting experience where two construction helpers shared about their lives openly and asked for prayers. When I shared more with them about the purpose of the construction, they asked us to visit their families.

Four of their children have already been enrolled in the program we have with Compassion! For the brothers of the church, it has been impressive each week to see the construction progress. They dream to see that space full of little ones with a possibility of a new story for their lives.

The community has increasingly approached us out of curiosity. They have heard what is happening and want to know more about what is being done. Because of the construction, I have been able to connect with many people who have asked for prayers and shared their problems. This shows that the community has seen and has entrusted us to come closer. Imagine how many families will be blessed when everything is finished!

Children playing at the church and center in the Angolo community in northern Peru.

ONE X TWO = MORE THAN TWO

Thus far, over 20,000 children are known, loved, and protected by these new church communities. This has all been possible due to the combined efforts of various church planting organizations, over 40 North and South American denominations, numerous individual churches, and people who value the importance of a church in a community and child discipleship.

With these partnerships, the results produce more than typical math. We are seeing that one times two equals MORE than two.

This type of common vision and partnership makes me think of Paul the Apostle’s statement in 1 Corinthians 3:9-10 (GNT).

“We are partners working together for God, and you are God’s field. You are also God’s building. Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it.”

A child tutor and children praying at a newly established church plant and CDC (BR545) in Ceara state Brazil.

Overall, this approach is newer for us. We are not in the “full-time business” of church planting. We focus on holistic child development and partnership with sponsors, donors, and churches and will continue seeking and adding new partnerships in traditional ways.

But, in cases when and where it makes sense for us to bridge a connection, we will facilitate church planting that furthers the organic vision and existing goals of child-focused church partners.

We plan to pursue even more church planting partnerships across Latin America—and likely more opportunities in parts of Asia and Africa in 2018. We see this as much more than math. We see powerful multiplications of the church’s work to help release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

Interested to know more? Want to get involved in bringing life-changing hope to children through church planting? Email our church team today or call us at 866-607-5162.

“She’s going to tell me Christmas is too commercial. And that I need to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.”

You obviously don’t know me.

I love Christmas. I love twinkly lights and decorating sugar cookies and candlelight services and presents. I love presents. I’ve already started my Christmas shopping — NOT because I’m organized but just because it’s so much fun!

This Christmas, I’m not going to encourage you to do less. The opposite, in fact. You should make Christmas more! Not more stuff. But more love. More joy. More Jesus.

Which moments during the holidays make you feel happiest? Bring you joy? Help you feel most in line with how Jesus taught us to live and care for one another?

Is it the Christmas cards? Handwrite special notes for people you love (including the child you sponsor)!

The baking? Make a basket of cookies to share with that person in your life who feels alone this year.

The gift giving? Consider giving a gift from Compassion’s Gift Catalog — not only will you honor a loved one, but you’ll also provide a life-changing gift to a child in poverty.

So go forth, and Make Christmas More this year! And let us know how you do it!

Use #MakeItMore on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to share your ideas for how you spread the joy of Jesus this Christmas season.

And follow all the inspiration as we post your great ideas and more to our Make It More Pinterest Board. Be sure to tag us and we’ll share your great ideas to inspire others!

]]>How to Use Snapchat for Pictures to Send to the Child You Sponsorhttps://blog.compassion.com/how-to-use-snapchat-to-give-your-letters-more-personality/
Fri, 11 Nov 2016 15:25:00 +0000Sam Hooverhttp://blog.compassion.com/?p=73242

I have a fun job. Not only do I get to work for an organization that I’m passionate about, I have one of the coolest responsibilities. It’s my team’s job to tell the stories of kids in our program and the churches we partner with and to connect with sponsors through social media — sites like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest ... and Snapchat.

One of my primary responsibilities is to be on top of new and growing social networks. To figure out if these networks can help contribute to our mission, I usually have to jump on them and use them personally. I learn the lingo, the content and the flow that make these channels work, and then I apply what I’ve learned to help ignite compassion in those connected with Compassion.

My friend Yvonne recently blogged about using Snapchat for pictures to send in her Compassion letters. At the time, I was trying to figure out a fun way to get my own kids more involved in letter writing — outside of having them sit down on a regular basis to write to Fabian, the boy we sponsor in Ecuador.

Reading her post, I thought, “This is perfect. I’m on Snapchat with my friends and family, too. What a great way to combine my use of social media with my desire to help my kids connect with Fabian, our sponsored child.”

I started not only capturing moments on Snapchat that my friends or family would enjoy but also ones that I could send to Fabian. I’d snap some moments in the city where we live and moments with my kids that would show our family’s personality.

Snapchat doesn’t just give me the ability to take pictures. Because what would be the point of using it instead of my camera? It lets me and my kids get creative together in our letters to Fabian with features that let us draw, add text and stickers, and even overlay a cool filter based on where the picture was taken.

And it couldn’t be easier.

Here’s how to use Snapchat to add a little personality to your Compassion letter.

1. Snap a pic.

A day at the park with your family. Your favorite hobby. That proud-parent moment when your daughter or son graduated from school or performed in their first recital.

2. Use a geofilter.

This shows where your picture was taken and gives it an awesome postcard feel!

3. Personalize it!

Put a sticker (or two) on it. Draw on it. Do you have a little budding artist in your family? Let them add their personality to the picture!

4. Save the Snap to your camera roll.

Then when you’re ready to write your next letter, open up my favorite way to write letters — the Compassion app (or you can write from your phone using your web browser instead). Just upload the photo, add a written greeting, and send it off.

]]>Be the Church More Than 80 Minutes a Weekhttps://blog.compassion.com/be-the-church-more-than-80-minutes-a-week/
Mon, 07 Nov 2016 10:00:53 +0000Tim Timmonshttp://blog.compassion.com/?p=73923

There are so many things in life that I don’t understand.

I don’t understand why, every time we are far away from a restroom, one of my kids always has to “go.” I don’t understand why Luke Skywalker whined so much while living with Uncle Owen in Tatooine (“Tosche Station/power converters”… anyone with me?).

I don’t understand why, in the 10,080 minutes of our week, we as the Church put most of our resources and efforts into the 80-minute gathering and forget the rest of the 10,000 minutes of our week.

I don’t understand why my total babe of a wife still thinks that I’m hot! Other than her eyesight is really waning these days. ☺

I don’t understand why, after a stage four incurable cancer diagnosis 15 years ago, I was given five years to live and I got to wake up today. Grateful! And on the other hand, I don’t understand why, after praying with great faith for my tumors to be gone, I still have four lesions on my liver that “they say” are wearing out my heart.

I don’t understand why there are kids all over the world right now who are being sold into unimaginable circumstances. I don’t understand why there are kids all over the world that are actually starving to death.

Things I don’t understand.

Doing for One

When faced with the realities of what life looks like for a child in poverty, Hilary (my total babe of a wife of 19 years) and I felt overwhelmed. The need was too great, too much to even bear. How could we change the trajectory of a global, “incurable” problem?

I heard one of my heroes, Andy Stanley, challenge people by saying this simple phrase:

“Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.”

What did we wish we could do for all of the poverty-stricken kids all over the world? Surely, we wanted to do what Jesus did and to act as His Church. Meet their needs, provide them with hope, and fill them with His love.

Being the Church

Recently, Hilary and I had the privilege of going to Nicaragua and meeting Paula, one of the kids we sponsor. What a powerful experience to see firsthand what our $38 a month is doing in the lives of so many kids and specifically with Paula and her family.

Paula lives in a literal shack with her dad and grandma and two brothers. Her mom moved to Panama to make money as a house cleaner and her dad is a bit of a mess.

We got to see that because of our sponsorship and her local church, Paula eats every week. She is intimately known and loved by her local pastor and Compassion teachers. Every day, Paula is given the tools to break the cycle of poverty through an education. Paula is daily introduced to Hope and His name is Jesus!

If Paula were in a specific place where child slavery was an issue, her church would be advocating for and protecting her. If Paula had specific medical needs, they would step in. Honestly, after seeing the amount of medical, spiritual and emotional discipleship that goes on with every kid, I was trying to figure out how to get my biological kids in the program. ☺

I advocate for kids all over the world through Compassion because I’ve seen the difference between children who have loving sponsors and children who don’t in their neighborhood. I’ve seen the amount of care, beauty and love that these kids get. I’ve seen the way that the local church gets to be the church all week long in these communities -- making Jesus the Hero!

Teaching Kids to Be the Church.

We did for one what we wished we could’ve done for everyone and now we keep adding kids into our family. Each of my biological kids is walking with another kid from another country. We’ve paired our kids up with other kids that are the same age and gender. This is just becoming something that we do and talk about as a family.

We want our biological kids and the kids we sponsor to grow up praying for each other. Kids are kids no matter where they’re from!

In our family, we are trying to figure out how to practice the principles and teachings of Jesus. Not just in our 80-minute gatherings that we call church, but in the other 10,000 minutes of our week. Sponsorship helps us do that.
It’s not about just gathering these kids for 80 minutes every week and calling it church, but it’s about walking with them in the other 10,000 minutes of the week in the name, power and authority of Jesus and being the Church.

It's full blown autumn in our neck of the woods. Leaves are changing colors, falling off the trees, and finding their way into our yards. The changing of seasons always causes us to reflect: on life, work, family, purpose.

This month for Totally Worth It, we're asking you to reflect as well. It's easy to concentrate on what's been hard in your life — to focus on everything that's bad. Our hope is that this month's stories will reflect God's goodness and truth. And we hope you'll be inspired to reflect on what's good in your life, too ... because you are totally worth it.

Quotes Totally Worth Quoting

News Totally Worth Knowing

Take this drone and eat it.

Windhorse Aerospace recently announced a prototype drone that can deliver humanitarian aid to those affected by disasters around the world. What makes this drone special is that every part of it can be broken down for use: the plywood frame can be used as firewood, the wings are packed with food, and the protective cover can be used as a shelter.

Why This Is Worth It: Are you kidding? What's not cool about this story? It has drones (amazing). It helps those in need (spectacular). It goes unwasted (eco-friendly). As Ben Smith noted on Twitter, every part serves a purpose while also making deployment faster and more affordable. Using innovative tech to help others: Now that's good.

Checkmate poverty.

Last month, Disney released Queen of Katwe, a movie about the transformation of Phiona Mutesi from a young girl living in poverty in Uganda to chess prodigy that brings her and her family into prosperity.

Why This Is Worth It: We connect with stories of hope but this is also one that shows poverty for what it really is: a multi-spoked wheel that persistently rolls over anything in its path. What stood out the most for us was the message of the chess club founder, Robert Katende, that to defeat poverty we have to get personally involved.

385,000,000 kids not 400,000,000 kids.

A new report from UNICEF says that nearly 385 million children live in extreme poverty, living on less than $1.90 USD a day. Prior to this report, the best statistic we had was from a 2013 World Bank report, which said it was 400 million children. But that number was based on the old $1.25/per day poverty line. The poverty line was adjusted last year to better reflect purchasing power, among other factors.

Why This Is Worth It: Even though it sounds good to say that there are less children suffering under the weight of poverty, these are still staggering numbers.

“The sheer number of children in extreme poverty points to a real need to invest specifically in the early years — in services such as prenatal care for pregnant mothers, early childhood development programs, quality schooling, clean water, good sanitation and universal health care,” said Ana Revenga, Senior Director, Poverty and Equity at the World Bank Group.

We couldn't agree more which is why some of our most important work is done to help pregnant women, new moms and babies to give them the best chance at good health during such a critical time in their lives.

Pictures Totally Worth Seeing

Stories of survival and recovery are still pouring in from Haiti after Hurricane Matthew one month ago. Compassion storyteller, Ryan Johnson, was airborne a few days after the hurricane to capture the devastation around the country. Check out his Instagram account for some stunning pictures, including this one...

Compassion Alumni Worth Celebrating

Meet Gaby: a 20-year-old caring and determined woman. We're completely blown away by Gaby's story because it makes us reflect about our own circumstances and how God can use anything for good.

You see, for 13 years, Gaby attended the Compassion program at her local church. For 13 years, she dedicated herself to her education under the eye of her tutors and mentors. For 13 years, she opened her Bible and studied God's words as they came to life. For 13 years, she dreamed of a life free from the chains that poverty put around her at birth. And after 13 years, those dreams are coming true.

Very soon, Gaby will get a degree in business administration from her local university. Very soon, she will lead her community to experience the same love and hope that she has experienced. Because, very soon, Gaby, an alumna of the sponsorship program in Honduras, will soon become the director of the very child development center that she attended when she was a child.

Sponsors Totally Worth Spotlighting

It's our favorite part too, Carly! Love getting and sharing the mail you get from the kids you sponsor? Use #compassionletter when you post it on social media so others can enjoy it with you!

So what do you think about Totally Worth It so far? Anything in your world that is totally worth sharing?

]]>When Will I Receive a Letter From the Child I Sponsor?https://blog.compassion.com/when-will-i-receive-a-letter-from-the-child-i-sponsor/
Tue, 01 Nov 2016 09:00:23 +0000Susan Saylerhttp://blog.compassion.com/?p=73847

This is a question I have gotten from sponsors for as long as I have worked at Compassion, but I have heard it asked especially often over the last few months. I hope to explain a little of what might be contributing to the length of time that it is taking for you to receive a letter.

Letters are important. They have the power to communicate to a child, “You are known and loved.” Because letters are precious and cherished, we want to make sure that the processing and translation of these letters is done right.

In the past, a child might have asked their sponsor in a letter to pray for their father who was sick at the time that the letter was written. Because letters may have taken two to three months to be delivered, the father may have passed away by the time the sponsor received the letter. There’s a lot that can happen in a child’s life in two to three months.

This drives home a point for us: letters matter and the timeliness of letters matters too. Being able to tell a child, “I’m praying for you as you take your exam” is powerful and encouraging, but it is especially meaningful when said before they actually take their exam.

Here at Compassion, we are all about relationships. We are in relationship with local church partners to empower them to serve their communities. We connect supporters and children so that they can participate in mutually transformative relationships. If we could speed up the time that it takes for a letter to be exchanged back and forth between supporters and children, it would also enrich the relationships between them.

If we could be more efficient, we could send more and more letters and serve more children in the future. As the momentum was built, the lives of many more children would be impacted by the life-saving benefits of our program.

Something needed to be done to help us deliver letters more efficiently. So for several years we prayerfully worked to bring this vision to fruition. Then in April 2016, we began using a new system designed to help us deliver letters faster than ever before.

While the new system enabled us to deliver thousands of letters in two weeks or less, we also encountered issues that we had not anticipated.

Unfortunately, these issues have increased the letter delivery time for about one-third of our sponsors. We are regrettably aware that, depending on when the letter before that was sent, some supporters are waiting six months or more for a letter.

We are committed to continue delivering letters even as we work diligently to resolve the issues in the new system as efficiently as possible.

Thank you so much for all of your patience with us as we upgrade our systems. Please excuse our dust as our letter delivery system is under construction!

Here are ways you can be praying for us as we go through this transition:

Pray for insight and efficiency as the team continues resolving all the remaining issues.

Pray for God’s protection over our new technology and that our system will work as it is supposed to.

Pray for patience and grace across the ministry worldwide as we work together to resolve these challenges and move forward.

Pray for wisdom and effective teamwork.

Even though these changes are affecting the time it takes to send and receive letters for some, rest assured that the value of your and the children’s letters when they do arrive is the same! Please continue to write to share your love and encouragement with the child or teen your sponsor.

When our daughter Hailey was five she asked, “Are we rich or poor?” At the time, we actually had little in comparison with what’s often expected in our culture.

But we also knew that how we answered her question would leave a lasting impression on her sense of abundance.

“Hailey,” my wife said, “We have everything we need. We have people who love and care for us. We have good food to eat, good things to learn, and fun places to go. Yes, we are very rich.”

Appreciating the abundance we’ve been given can help us and our children gain a perspective that empowers us to live generously.

Here are a few steps parents can take to help their kids develop a sense of abundance and generosity.

1. Cultivate gratitude as a family.

Despite our best intentions, meal-time prayers can easily become an uninspired repetition of well-rehearsed words.To mix things up a bit, when our kids were small we started inviting each person at the table to answer the question,

“What is one thing you are grateful for today?”

Every few months we also do a round of “affirmations” and have everyone share one thing they appreciate about each person in our family.

2. Teach your kids about money.

When I was four years old, my parents started giving me an allowance of 30 cents a week. Along with my three, dimes they gave me some simple guidance about money that my young mind could grasp: 10 cents to give, 10 cents to save, and 10 cents to spend. I put one dime in the plate at Sunday school, another dime in my penny bank at home, and I spent my third dime on bubbles, a rubber ball or some candy at the corner store.

We’ve done something similar with our three children.

We started giving them a small part of the family budget to manage when they were six or seven years old (their allowance, clothing money, gift money and a portion of our charitable giving), so that they would begin to understand how to value and plan their resources.

Now that they have after-school jobs and baby-sitting money, they share the cost of sponsoring a child (whom Hailey and I met on a trip to El Salvador in 2008).

Although we want to be generous with our kids, we have them save up and pay a portion of major purchases like camp, cameras and computers. As they hit adolescence we began having regular conversations about things like ethical spending practices, debt, and wise use of resources.

When we have to say “no” to a purchase, we take time to explain the decision and the trade-offs we sometimes have to make between spending and other life priorities.

3. Be a friend to the poor.

When our kids were small, we were taking early steps to practice compassion towards those who struggle with loneliness, poverty and mental illness. We wanted our kids to share this journey, so we took them along to the soup kitchen or homeless encampment. When we had the opportunity, we also spent time with children living in an orphanage in Mexico.

I love it that, once on the way home from the food pantry, our son Noah told me,

“Dad, I don’t think we should call our friends who live outside “homeless.” They have a home; it’s just on the sidewalk.”

He was learning important lessons about seeing each person with the dignity they have as beloved children of God.

4. Value the good things that everyone on Earth can enjoy.

When we expose our kids to poverty and struggle it’s easy to focus on the differences between what we have and what others lack. Sometimes our first reaction is to feel pity. But those with less have a lot to teach us about what is truly important and valuable.

As First World visitors to the majority world, we are often shocked by the absence of the luxuries and conveniences we are familiar with, as well as the lack of infrastructure, clean water, public safety, basic nutrition and health care.

Yet most of us are equally surprised by how generous and happy so many people living in these conditions are — smiling, laughing, singing, dancing and sharing what little they have with one another. I’ve heard many people confess that people living in these difficult situations often seem happier than we are.

While being careful not to romanticize or trivialize the challenges of living in the developing world, it seems clear that human happiness is not wholly dependent on what we own or consume. Exchanging regular letters with the children we sponsor as a family and hearing them share about their hopes and dreams reminds me to value the good things that everyone on earth can enjoy.

I think we receive as much, or more, from these children as we give to them.

5. Choose a lifestyle that is more globally sustainable.

As a family, we’ve become aware of estimates that it would take four to seven Earths to sustain us if everyone on the planet had the same ecological footprint as the average American. This has given us a lot to wrestle with and talk about.

Just because we can afford to consume more, does that mean we should? We know of families who have sold their children into labor or sex slavery so that they could buy a TV or video game system.

What are we modeling for our brothers and sisters in the developing world? For the sake of our global neighbors, the planet and future generations, we’ve simply got to find a less wasteful and consumptive vision of the good life that can be shared by all.

These are not concerns with easy solutions, but the gospel invites us to use our creativity and intelligence to pray and seek God’s will to be done on Earth as in heaven.

This is why I regularly explore two questions with my kids:

“Who are you, and how has God made you to be of use in the world?”

We try to help our kids see how their interests in science, literature and musical theater can be used to bring healing and hope.

We can be generous with our money, but even more, we can instill in our kids a sense of destiny, to be generous with their whole lives.

How do you cultivate a sense of generosity and teach your children about the needs of others? Leave a comment below!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mark Scandrette's new book Belonging and Becoming: Creating A Thriving Family Culture explores these themes and more. In the book, he and his wife Lisa offer wisdom from the joys and struggles of their own life, and practical guidance for creating a healthy and deeply rooted family culture, where each person is supported to develop who they are for the good of the world.